Mission Statement This church believes God’s desire is to restore the human race back to Himself  through Jesus Christ and we are to be the instruments of this restoration on the earth and particularly in this City.  We believe everyone has a purpose and destiny and can find complete fulfilment through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Our aim is to help you find that destiny. We are a City of Refuge, an oasis of life in a land that is spiritually dry.  We are a place of escape, restoration, refreshing and re- focussing.  We will not define you by your past, but accept you for who you are and do all in our power to help you to become what God intends you to be, doing what He intends you to be doing. Vision and Purpose why we exist Made with Xara Web Designer City of Refuge - August 2010 “Building Kingdom People” "Building Kingdom people who will strengthen families,  impact the city and change the world" This statement sums up in a simple sentence the thrust of this vision.  It is a vision of restoration. Restoration of people from bondage. Restoration of a functioning church where each one does his or her part and is flowing in the works that God has prepared for them to do and fulfilling their purpose and destiny.  Restoration of the five-fold ministry, fully recognised and functioning within their areas of anointing, thus releasing that anointing and ministry that prepares God’s people for the works of service that God has prepared for them, so that the body can be built up into maturity. Restoration is NOT “heavy shepherding”, control, or in any way taking away an individual believer’s responsibility for their own Christian walk.  This does not make for strong Christians, but keeps them in an unnatural state of “Christian infancy”.   Rather, it is encouraging and equipping each believer to rise to their full stature in Christ and go on to maturity and discover their own vision, purpose and destiny.  There are three simple steps: 1.  Discern  Each one of us has a task to do, a work to accomplish that God has pre-ordained that we should walk in. (Ephesians 2:10).  So many people feel that sometimes they are a “square peg in a round hole.”  We are committed to helping you find the correct shaped “hole” or ministry that you should be fitting into.  We will do whatever it takes to help you discern your anointing.  We do not want to force you into anything that you are not meant to be doing, but will assist you in every way possible to fulfil your own personal vision and destiny.  2. Develop The second stage is helping you to develop that gifting and ministry.    We are not called to collect converts, but to make disciples according to Matthew 28:19-20, equipped with the necessary knowledge and tools for them to be effective ministers.  This involves the five-fold ministry operating effectively within the church: prophets to impart vision and motivation; teachers to establish sound biblical doctrine; pastors to impart the compassion and heart for people; evangelists to enthuse with a desire to see many more come into a relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord.  The five-fold ministry is there to equip you for the things that you are called to do. 3. Deploy The third stage is to release people into their ministry.  If anyone has a dream, desire or vision for a particular area of ministry – e.g. counselling, children’s work, community action etc. – then we will do all in our power to help them. City of Refuge Prayer “Father, we will seek to know  You, more than to know about  You.  We will not run from Your  voice, but will run to Your  voice. We pray our Church will  become a place of release,  and not a place of  containment.  Bring us the halt,  the lame, and the broken, and  we O God, in Your Name, and  with the help of Your Holy  Spirit, will do our best to bring  healing and freedom to them,  and send them out whole into a  broken world. May our Church change our  community, and speak life to its  neighbours in Jesus’ Name.   Amen.”